DP 482 Lagan College-1.Pdf

COPY OF DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Cover Note

DP No. 482

Proposal To increase Lagan College’s enrolment number from 1200 to 1300 phased over two years from September 2017, or as soon as possible thereafter, with the school’s admission number remaining at 200. Minister’s Decision *Approve Development Proposal 482.

Date of Decision 14 February 2017

Minister’s Comments As above* Additional notes n/a Information redacted Some information and personal data may have been removed in line with the principles of the Freedom of Information and Data Protection Act.

Key Details .... redaction * refers to less than five cases where data is considered sensitive # means figure has been suppressed to prevent disclosure of sensitive information under rules of disclosure

From: Lorraine Finlay Area Planning Policy Team

Date: 13 February 2017

To: PETER WEIR MLA Copy distribution below

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL NO 482 – LAGAN COLLEGE/INCREASE ENROLMENT

Issue: Development Proposal No 482 published 24 November 2016 by the Education Authority on behalf of the Board of Governors of Lagan College to increase the school’s enrolment from 1200 to 1300 (with admissions remaining at 200 places) from September 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter. Timescale: Urgent. The proposed implementation date for this proposal is September 2017. Financial/Resourc Capital Cost: Nil. Lagan College’s new building e Implications: was designed and built to accommodate a sixth form of over 340 places. Funding Requirements: A high-level funding estimate for the implementation of this proposal using 2016-17 Post-Primary Formula Funding values, is £234k (full year 2018-19) and £136k (in-year 2017-18). The funding, therefore, over 2 phased years would be £468k (full year 2018-19 and 2019-20) and £272k (in-year 2017- 18 and 2018-19). The funding requirement may be increased by other allocations, such as the Targeting Social Need (TSN) Factor and Premises Factor (Floor Area element), which cannot be estimated at present as relevant data is not available.

FOI Implications: The contents of this submission are likely to be fully disclosable. Statutory Duty Implications: There is a statutory duty on the Department of

Education (DE) under Article 64 of the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) 1989 Order, to encourage and facilitate the development of integrated education, that is to say the education together at school of Protestant and Roman Catholic pupils.

Presentational There may be local and Integrated Sectoral Issues: Bodies interest in your decision on this proposal. In the event of an enquiry, Communications Team can draw from this submission.

A draft press release will be provided for your approval following your decision should you think it is appropriate to issue a Press Release during the Purdah period.

Recommendation: It is recommended that you:

1) Approve DP 482 as published. This means that the enrolment number at Lagan College will increase from 1200 to 1300 phased over two years from September 2017, or as soon as possible thereafter, with the admissions number remaining at 200.

2) Agree that this submission (with appropriate redactions) can be made available on the Department’s website once the school and the EA have been notified and the Press Release issued.

Map 1: Lagan College/Pupil Catchment

Map 2: Lagan College and neighbouring Integrated provision

1. BACKGROUND

Introduction 1.1 On 24 November 2016 the Education Authority, on behalf of the Board of Governors (BoG) of Lagan College, published Development Proposal (DP) 482 to increase the school’s enrolment number from 1200 to 1300 phased over two years from September 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter, with the school’s (Year 8) admission number remaining at 200 places. A copy of the proposal is at Appendix A.

1.2 It is the school’s intention that the additional 100 places created would be allocated to its sixth form provision and implemented on a phased basis with the enrolment number increasing from 1200 to 1250 places at September 2017 and to 1300 places at September 2018. The impact would result in its post-16 year groups (Years 13 and 14) each increasing from 100 to 150 places over two years to provide an overall sixth form of 300 places when the proposal is fully implemented.

School and area 1.3 Lagan College is Northern Ireland’s the first planned Integrated school. Founded in 1981, it is a co-educational all ability grant- maintained Integrated post-primary school catering for students aged 11 to 19 years, situated in the Castlereagh hills on land leased from the National Trust. The school has a grammar stream with around 35% of its Year 8 pupils entering the school through an academic selection process.

1.4 In 2014, a new school building was opened which represented £25m of investment through the Public Private Partnership project.

1.5 In 2015/16 Lagan College had: o 1265 pupils enrolled of which 212 pupils were in Year 8; 1047 at Years 8 to 12 and 218 at Post-16. o 321 (26%) pupils at Special Educational Needs (SEN) Stages 1-4 and 70 pupils (6%) at Stage 5 of the assessment process. o 313 (25%) pupils entitled to Free School Meals. o 504 (40%) pupils from the Protestant tradition; 473 (37%) pupils from the Roman Catholic tradition and 288 (23%) pupils from other regions/or religion unknown.

1.6 On the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2010, the Moneyreagh 1 Super Output Area (in which Lagan College is situated) is

6 placed 839 out of 890 (1 being the most deprived and 890 being the least deprived).

2. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Statutory duty 2.1 There is a statutory duty on the Department (DE) under Article 64 of the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) 1989 Order, to encourage and facilitate the development of integrated education, that is to say the education together at school of Protestant and Roman Catholic pupils’.

2.2 DE must also be mindful of its statutory duty under Article 44 of the Education and Libraries Order 1986 and under Managing Public Money to ensure effective and efficient use of public funds.

2.3 In relation to a DP to expand a post-primary school, due regard also has to be given to the statutory duty within the framework of ensuring effective planning to meet future educational requirements for the area and alongside other relevant issues including the sustainability of the school in question; the ability of the school to deliver high quality education; the impact on other schools and the achievement of area planning objectives to reduce duplication and ensure appropriate provision to meet future demand. It is also necessary to consider the strategic development of the Integrated sector as a whole, rather than simply to respond to development proposals for individual schools.

3. CASE FOR CHANGE 3.1 Lagan College’s BoG has presented a case for change in support of this proposal (attached in full at Appendix A). It is noted that the school has not used the most current case for change template (which references the ‘Education Authority’ rather than ‘the Board’). However the appropriate procedures have been followed.

3.2 In relation to the rationale for this proposal, the case for change states that over the last 15 years the school’s 100 Year 13 places have been filled and it has been oversubscribed. The case for change also notes that in addition to turning away its own students who are wanting to progress into sixth form, it also turns away ‘significant numbers’ of external post-16 students wanting to enrol there. It is the school’s view that this proposal will extend the provision of post-16 Integrated education in the Belfast and South-Eastern Region.

3.3 The case for change notes that the school fulfils all six criteria set out in the Sustainable Schools Policy (SSP). DE’s assessment of the school in relation to the SSP is included at Section 5 in this submission.

3.4 The following supporting points are also made in the case for change:  There is substantial demand for parents annually for the quality and type of Sixth Form provision provided by Lagan College and ...increased...frustration at the shortage of Post-16 places at the College.  The College has a number of applications from schools that do not have A’level provision.  There is limited provision for Post-16 integrated provision in the Castlereagh and East Belfast area...students...have the option of Priory College or Malone College. However, both schools require students to travel long distances.  There is a community based and province wide need and desire for Integrated education.

Area Planning 3.5 In relation to Area Planning, the case for change notes that:  This proposal will address over subscription, meet parental demand and ensure a network of sustainable sixth form provision.  Enable the College to provide the Entitlement Framework better and initiate courses which complement the range of general and applied A’ levels currently on offer.  The College also hopes to complement the A’ level provision of schools in its Area Learning Community and beyond.

Educational Impact 3.6 In relation to Educational Impact, the case for change notes that:  The proposal would allow more of Lagan College’s own students to access Integrated post-16 education and to meet the needs of pupils who have been educated in the school from Years 8 to 12 by working towards full delivery of the Entitlement Framework.  The proposal will enhance the quality and provision and raise standards.

Meeting the need of Students 3.7 The case for change states that:  The present sixth form comprises of 100 places in Year 13 and 100 places in Year 14, giving a total of 200 places. The proposal aims to have a phased increase over two years (50 places per year) making a total of 300 places at sixth form.  Three additional Post-16 courses would be added to the College’s curriculum as a result of this proposal.

 The College continues to be the most oversubscribed school in Northern Ireland at transition from primary to post-primary school.  Temporary Variations (TVs) to admissions at Lagan College have been approved over the past three years. Its sixth form is consistently oversubscribed and the College has been operating for a number of years with TVs for a number of years at Year 13.

Impact on neighbouring provision 3.8 In relation to the anticipated impact on neighbouring provision, the case for change states that this proposal will not impact negatively on neighbouring schools or Further Education (FE) colleges but that it will create greater opportunities for wider co-operation and course provision.

4. CONSULTATIONS

Pre-publication consultation 4.1 The case for change provides details of the statutory consultation required with the school’s Governors, teaching staff and parents of registered pupils and notes that the support for the proposal was unanimous in each of these groupings.

4.2 The EA has provided details of its statutory consultation with all schools which it considered might be affected by the proposal and received 103 responses. It is noted that Down High School, Our Lady and St Patrick’s College and Priory College responded during the EA’s consultation opposing the proposal because of the anticipated impact on their provision. The latter two schools also expressed concern that the out workings of the public consultation on the EA’s draft strategic Area Plan had not yet concluded.

EA’s comments 4.3 The EA’s comments are attached in full at Appendix B. It does not support this proposal and draws on the findings of a report it undertook (in 2015) regarding of post-primary provision in East Belfast (including Lagan College) to underpin this recommendation.

4.4 The EA’s comments on the proposal also highlight the draft strategic area plan which highlights the aim to ‘reconfigure post-16 provision to give pupils equitable access to the Entitlement Framework pathways in collaboration with the Further Education sector’ across all Council areas.

4.5 It is the EA’s view that a more robust, all-embracing, approach is needed which would tailor current provision, across all sectors, to a model fit to meet the needs of the 16 to 18 year old population in the east Belfast area. The EA notes that while this proposal would increase the number of places available in the area, it would not resolve the fundamental issues raised in the 2015 review or improve pathway choices for the majority of young people in the area.

2-month statutory objection period 4.6 During the two-month statutory objection period on this proposal which ran from 24 November 2016 to 24 January 2017 the Department received a total of 57 letters of support and no letters of objection. The 57 letters were received from:

o Lagan College (Chair BoG/Principal): 1 o Teachers/Staff at Lagan College: 13 o Parents (of past and present pupils): 28 o Others (interested in or affected by the proposal): 9 o Pupils (past and present): 2 o Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education: 1 o Integrated Education Fund: 1 o Strangford College (Principal): 1 o Kellie Armstrong MLA: 1

4.7 Details of the content of this correspondence is provided at Appendix D. In summary, Lagan College’s letter of support highlights that this proposal was included in a previous iteration of the Area Plan and that it would be unjust to its students to object to this proposal on grounds of awaiting a new Area Plan. The letter states that the impact of the proposal will not compromise other provision as the affected students are already enrolled at Lagan College. The letter notes that the school building has the capacity to accommodate the increase and that the proposal is in response to parents and pupils desire that they remain in the school to complete their studies.

4.8 Correspondence from parents supporting the proposal also highlight particular concerns about their children facing the prospect of limited availability of places in Lagan College’s Sixth Form and being unable to continue their studies there. They also refer to the uncertainty and stress which parents and pupils face as a result of the current Sixth Form provision and strongly support the difference which the provision of additional places would make. Correspondence from pupils supporting the proposal refers to the key benefits of the proposal and notes that it will benefit children of all abilities.

4.9 Teachers and Staff of Lagan College support the proposal and refer to the fact that pupils wanting to attend Sixth Form there should be given the opportunity to do so through this proposal. Mention is also made in these letters of the benefits of this proposal to students already attending the school (particularly those with SEN) and they refer to a lack of integrated post-primary (sixth form) places in the area.

4.10 The Integrated Education Fund’s (IEF) letter of support highlights the benefits of this proposal to Lagan College and its pupils in relation to the availability of more places and courses there. It notes that approval would allow the school to meet local demand for integrated education.

4.11 Kellie Armstrong, MLA and Strangford College each confirmed their support for the proposal.

4.12 The letter submitted by Lagan College and an email submitted by one of its teachers highlight a video made by students at the school in support of the proposal. This video can be viewed at the links provided below: https://twitter.com/lagancollege https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw7m7zxASLA&feature=youtu.be

4.13 The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education’s letter is attached in full at Appendix E and includes the following key points:

 The proposal should be considered within the contexts of DE’s duty under the 1989 Education Reform Order (NI) to ‘encourage and facilitate integrated education’....the 2014 judicial review of Drumragh College..the Stormont House Agreement.  Lagan College is one of the most oversubscribed schools in Northern Ireland. Growth of the school has been rapid..there has been over-subscription for Year 8 and Post 16 for many years.  The applications and admissions for 6th form at Lagan College are not adequate for a school of its size and do not allow Lagan College to be able to take their own pupils straight through from Year 8 to Year 14.  Lagan College loses a very significant number of its own pupils at 6th form entry stage and this proposal aims to enable students to be able to complete their education up to Year 14 at Lagan College.  Lagan College receives applications from other integrated school who do not have a Sixth Form, notably Blackwater College and who wish to continue their

education within the integrated education sector. There is limited provision for Post-16 integrated education in the Castlereagh and East Belfast area.  It is recognised that there is unmet parental demand for integrated education in the East Belfast and Castlereagh area and this has been included in Area/Action Plans for some years. (Note: NICIE provide a link in its letter to the former SEELB’s 2013 Area Plan which references this proposal and states that the SEELB would support it. NICIE also state that the proposal was raised by the school’s Principal at a meeting of the East Belfast Area Learning Community in June 2016).  In recent years Lagan students have transferred to about 12 other schools...numbers are small at roughly 6 per year and therefore the impact on any one school ...would also be minimal. The majority of students who leave Lagan in Year 12 go to a college of Further Education or into training or apprenticeships.  It is unlikely that the expansion will have a detrimental impact on...integrated schools (i.e. Malone, Priory and Strangford College) and may indeed have a positive impact on Blackwater students.  The school takes in 200 children at year it...only has places for 100 at year 13. This proposal would increase the percentage that could be retained to 75% instead of the current 50%. This proposal will have no impact on admissions into other year groups and it is not Lagan College’s intention to increase provision to Year 8.  NICIE believes that the provision of additional places would enhance the school’s ability to deal with the demands placed upon it....this proposal will have little or no impact on other post-primary schools in the area...the impact ...on the FE Colleges will again be minimal as the numbers represent a very small proportion of their intake at that level.  NICIE asks the Minister to support this proposal as it represents a low cost and positive step to support a sustainable school into the future.

5. SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

Quality Education Experience 5.1 Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) input on this proposal is attached in full at Appendix F. It undertook a standard inspection of Lagan College in April 2013 and assessed that the overall performance level was ‘good’ and Achievements and Standards, Provision for Learning and Leadership and Management at the school were also ‘good’.

5.2 ETI note that, at the time of the inspection, the percentage of pupils achieving five A*-C at GCSE level or equivalent, including English and

12 mathematics was well above the NI average for non-selective schools. The percentage achieving three A’ levels or equivalent was also above the average for non-selective schools. ETI state that in 2016, the percentage of students gaining three or more GCE A’ levels or equivalent at grades A*-C was 69%, the highest recorded by the school.

5.3 The ETI reports that its inspection identified areas for improvement which the school has demonstrated the capacity to address. The main area for improvement is to develop the effectiveness of the processes of self-evaluation in order to improve further the learning and teaching and the standards pupils attain. In response to the report’s findings, ETI notes that the school regularly invites the District Inspector in to consult on the school development planning process and actions to promote improvement.

School Performance at GCSE-level and GCE A’level 5.4 In 2014/15 (currently the most available year for verified outcomes), the GCSE outcomes were below the NI non-grammar school average for pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*-C (66% compared to 72%) but above the NI non-grammar average for pupils achieving 5+ GCSE A*-C inc. GCSEs English and mathematics (56% compared to 47%).

5.5 The proportion of Year 12 pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*-C declined from 74% in 2013/14 to 66% in 2014/15. The proportion of pupils achieving 5+ GCSE A*-C inc. GCSEs English and mathematics has remained consistently above the NI average in each of the past 4 years for which verified data is available (2011/12 to 2014/15). It should be noted that Lagan enrols up to 35% of its Year 8 intake based on academic ability. Table 1 below shows the school’s GCSE outcomes in the period 2011/12 to 2014/15.

Table 1 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Proportion achieving 5+ GCSEs or equivalent at Grades A*- C

Lagan College 74% 71% 74% 66%

NI Non-grammar Average 64% 67% 71% 72%

Proportion achieving 5+ GCSEs or equivalent at Grades A*- C including GCSE English and GCSE mathematics

Lagan College 51% 46% 56% 56%

NI Non-grammar Average 36% 38% 44% 47%

5.6 The proportion of pupils at Lagan College achieving 2+ A-levels or equivalent at grades A*-E has remained steady in recent years. In 2014/15, 99% of Year 14 pupils achieved at this level which was above the NI non-grammar average of 96%. The proportion of Year 14 pupils achieving 3+ A-levels or equivalent at grades A*-C has remained above the NI non-grammar average in recent years; in 2014/15, 60% of Year 14 pupils achieved at this level compared to the NI non-grammar average of 48%. The school advises that 69% of pupils achieved at this level in 2015/16 (this data is unverified).

5.7 Outcomes at GCE A-Level or equivalent qualifications between 2011/12 and 2014/15 are detailed in Table 2 below.

Table 2 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Proportion achieving 2+ A-levels or equivalent at Grades A*- E

Lagan College 100% 99% 99% 99%

NI Non-grammar Average 96% 96% 95% 96%

Proportion achieving 3+ A-levels or equivalent at Grades A*- C

Lagan College 63% 61% 57% 60%

NI Non-grammar Average 45% 45% 48% 48%

5.8 Compared to other non-grammar schools serving the Belfast area and its immediate environs, Lagan College has a relatively low proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals; in 2015/16, 24.7% of its pupils (313 out of 1,265) were entitled to free school meals.

Curricular Offer 5.9 In 2015/16, in order to meet the statutory requirements of the Entitlement Framework (EF) schools are required to provide access to a minimum of 24 courses at Key Stage 4 (KS4) and 27 courses at Post- 16; of which at least one third must be general and one third applied.

5.10 Revised EF arrangements have recently been approved which mean that, from September 2017 onwards, schools are required to offer 21 courses at both KS4 and at Post-16. Schools will still be required to

14 offer at least one third general and one third applied courses as this is set out in primary legislation. However, at this time, the 2015/16 information is the most current and verified available.

5.11 The table below sets out the data for academic year 2015/16. Green indicates that the school met these requirements in 2015/16 and Red indicates the school did not meet the requirements.

5.12 Lagan College provided access to the following courses at KS4 and Post-16.

Key Stage 4 (Year Post-16 (Year 13) 11) Applied courses 17 12 General courses 17 13 Total 34 25

5.13 At KS4 Lagan College offered access to 34 courses, where all of the applied and general courses were delivered within the school. At Post-16 the school offered access to 25 courses; all of the 12 applied courses were delivered within the school. Two of the 13 general courses were delivered through collaboration, one with Our Lady and St Patrick’s College and one with Breda Academy.

5.14 Therefore, although Lagan College’s offer of 25 courses at post-16 did not meet the EF statutory requirement in 2015/16, this offer would be sufficient enough to meet the reduced number of 21 courses in September 2017.

5.15 The case for change states that, ‘Currently the College is capable of delivering the EF. However, in any given year, not all subjects may be selected’. However, it is a school’s curricular ‘offer’ that is counted for the purposes of EF compliance and the uptake of courses by pupils would not necessarily inhibit a school from providing access to the proscribed number of courses.

5.16 It is noted that Lagan College hopes to collaborate and offer courses for other schools within the Area Learning Community (ALC) and beyond. At post-16 two courses were delivered collaboratively in 2015/16, one of which was with a school outside the ALC.

Stable Enrolment Trends 5.17 Table 3 below confirms that Lagan College is consistently oversubscribed at Year 8 and has filled above its admission number in each of the past four years. Unverified details for 2016/17 submitted to

DE by the EA suggest a similar pattern in relation to the school’s Year 8 admission numbers.

Table 3: Lagan College – Admission Details Year Approved Yr 8 Yr 8 Yr 8 Admission Total First Preference Total Admissions Number Applications Applications 2016/17 200 398 319 201 2015/16 200 500 419 212 2014/15 200 442 356 214 2013/14 200 285 234 208 2012/13 200 299 236 209

5.18 Table 4 below highlights the enrolments at Lagan College between 2011/12 to 2015/16. The school’s enrolment are consistently above the Sustainable Schools Policy (SSP) recommended thresholds of 500 (Years 8-12) and 100 (post-16) for a sustainable and viable post- primary school 9 (most recently evidenced in the 2015/16 enrolments shown above and excluding the numbers of SEN Stage 5 pupils highlighted in red).

Table 4 2015/16 Lagan College – enrolmts 2011/12* 2012/13* 2013/14* 2014/15* 2015/16* SEN Stage 5 (200/1200) Total pupils 1246 1249 1260 1270 1264 69 Totals Yrs 8-12 1042 1046 1044 1047 1047 62 Total 6th Form 204 203 216 223 217 7 Year 8 intakes 212 209 208 214 212 10 * including SEN 5 (Yr 15 pupils excluded)

5.19 If a school receives more applications for admission than it has places available it can request a Temporary Variation (TV) of its admissions and/or enrolment number from the Department. For the purposes of post-primary school TV requests the Department defines ‘reasonable travelling distance’ as a journey that can be completed by public transport in one hour or less and is not further than 15 miles travelling distance from a child’s home. For the last five years Lagan College has had the following TVs granted (Table 5 below):

Table 5 Approved Approved Temporary Variations School Year Admissions Enrolment Approved Number Number (To a total of)* Admissions Enrolment 2016/17 200 1,200 - - 2015/16 200 1,200 - - 2014/15 200 1,200 - 1,209 (Sixth Form) 2013/14 200 1,200 - 1,207 (Sixth Form) 2012/13 200 1,200 - - *Numbers exclude statemented children (all year groups) and those admitted on appeal or by the ECB (year of admission only)

5.20 The above figures do not appear to tally with the TV figures quoted in the case for change. According to the Department’s records, Lagan College has not been granted any TVs in the past two years. However it is possible that the case for change is actually quantifying the additional numbers admitted to sixth form above the notional Year 13 figure of 100. In reality, the school had a small number of available places across all year groups in some of these years and therefore would not have required a formal TV from the Department.

5.21 Table 6 below confirms that Lagan College meets the required 30% of enrolments from the minority (Catholic) community.

Table 6 Lagan College – Religious Balance 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2015/16 % Protestant 536 526 548 541 504 40 Catholic 456 456 447 461 473 37 Other religions / religion not known 259 267 265 268 288 23 TOTALS 1251 1249 1260 1270 1265 100

5.22 Lagan College’s 50% retention rate of its Year 12 cohort is evidenced in Table 7 below. In contrast, the local grammar schools have the potential to admit between 85% to 100% of their annual cohort into Year 13 (Appendix G: Snapshot 2 refers).

Table 7: Lagan College ‘staying on’ rates Lagan College Year 12 pupils in the year prior Year 13 pupils in Lagan College (%) 2016/17 (provisional) 212 101(48%) 2015/16 205 104 (51%) 2014/15 209 115 (55%) 2013/14 205 110 (54%) 2012/13 202 93 (46%) 2011/12 202 102 (50%)

5.23 Table 8 below confirms that there are no issues regarding the level of retention rates of pupils between Years 13 and 14 at Lagan College, which were 83% or above during the period 2011/12 to 2014/15.

Table 8: Lagan College – Retention Rates 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 Year 13 111 105 120 123 115 Year 14 93 98 96 100 102

Sound Financial Position

5.24 Lagan College has no deficit of public funds and the Department has no immediate financial concerns.

Strong Leadership and Management 5.25 ETI’s 2013 inspection report notes that the overall quality of leadership and management of the school was good. It notes that the Governors are very well informed and that effective governance arrangements are in place. The report refers to the Principal as having a clear vision for the direction of the school, focused on raising standards and matching provision to the needs of individual pupils. It notes that the Vice-Principal leads very effectively in a number of key aspects of school improvement and that the senior leadership team carry out important roles in improving aspects of provision.

Accessibility 5.26There are no apparent accessibility issues for pupils. The case for change describes the distance which pupils have to travel in order to attend as reasonable.

Strong Links with the Community 5.27 The case for change notes that Lagan College is an active member of the East Belfast Area Learning community and refers to ‘excellent links’ with the community. Close links between the school and local primary schools, churches and charities are also highlighted.

5.28 The Department notes that ETI’s 2013 inspection report states that the school has developed very effective links with parents, local businesses, external agencies and the wider community which support well the pupils’ educational and pastoral needs. Further, Lagan College has an active website which helps to keep the school and local community informed about activities there.

Overall Sustainability Summary 5.29 The above information confirms that there are no sustainability or viability issues regarding Lagan College. It is a popular, well managed and accessible school with strong community links and offers pupils a good standard of education provision. Although the school is currently EF compliant at KS4 but not at post-16, it will be compliant at both phases in 2017 in view of the recently announced revised EF offer requirements.

6. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Department Enrolment Policy 6.1 The Department sets one overall approved enrolment number. It does not set a separate enrolment number for Sixth Form. Where schools are not oversubscribed, they all have the same obligations to admit applicants to all available places, the only exception being for Year groups other than Year 8 if the BoG of a post-primary school can demonstrate that the admission of a child to the school would prejudice the efficient use of resources (Article 13 of the Education (NI) Order 1997 refers).

Former Development Proposals (2013/14) 6.2 In 2013, the then South Eastern and Belfast Education and Library Boards (SEELB/BELB) published six DPs to reshape (non-selective) post-primary provision in the “Corridor”, a distinct geographical area running from Holywood along the Knock dual carriageway to Newtownbreda (and within which Lagan College is situated). The purpose of those proposals was to re-shape controlled secondary and controlled integrated provision, largely for the East Belfast area but did not feature Lagan College specifically.

6.3 As a result of the proposals, Orangefield High School (HS) closed, Dundonald HS remained open, Newtownbreda and Knockbreda HSs amalgamated and Priory College’s enrolment number increased. Proposals to increase the admission and enrolment numbers at Ashfield Boys and Girls HSs were each turned down.

6.4 Priory College had sought to increase its approved enrolment number from 450 to 600 places in 2013 (SEELB DP 238 refers) but issues about the school’s enrolment at that time resulted in modifying the proposal to facilitate admission and enrolment numbers of 100 and 500 respectively to enable the school to demonstrate the need for provision for unmet demand for integrated education in the area and to ensure that any growth was managed from Year 8 upwards. It was agreed that if there was a marked increase in the lower school within three years and as a result an overall increase in demand for places there, the school’s managing authority (formerly the SEELB, now EA) could consider a further DP at that stage. There are currently no published DPs for Priory College.

6.5 Further to the announcements regarding the development proposals for post primary provision in east Belfast in January 2014 the then South Eastern and Belfast Education and Library Boards were commissioned to work with all other school sectors to ensure adequate places (at Years 8-12 and at post-16) across the ‘Corridor’ area. The report produced by the EA in 2015, which includes Lagan College, is attached in full at Appendix C. It concluded that current sixth form provision in the east Belfast area was adequate but needed to be more effectively and efficiently managed to avoid issues of duplication, small class sizes and inefficient timetabling.

Annual Action Plan (December 2015 to March 2017) 6.6 The EA’s current Annual Action Plan (which is the work programme for the relevant school planning authorities) includes this proposal. Reference to the proposal was also contained in previous iterations of the then South Eastern Education and Library Board’s published Area Plans which confirm that this proposal would be initiated within the ‘medium term’ (i.e. a five-year period). This proposal aligns with that intention and has been in the public domain for some years.

Strategic Area Plan (2017 -2020) 6.7 A draft strategic Area Plan (“Providing Pathways”) for primary, post- primary and special school provision has been developed by the EA working with its planning partners, for the period April 2017 to March 2020. The consultation findings are being analysed and a final Area Plan will be published in due course. An updated Annual Action Plan will supplement that the final Area Plan from which proposals for change will emanate.

Anticipated requirements and costs 6.8 An increase to Lagan College’s enrolment number phased in over two years (with no change to admissions) would in effect increase its potential sixth form cohort by 100 and would increase the funding available to the school as post-16 provision attracts a higher level of funding per pupil.

6.9 The case for change states that three additional Post-16 courses would be added to the school’s curriculum over this period. In relation to staffing requirements, a total of six additional teachers would be required (three to be appointed in 2017 and three in 2018) plus other additional salary, educational and administrative related expenses. The school anticipates that in 2017/18, the anticipated amount of funding due through the uptake of the additional places would not fully cover all of the associated expenses but it anticipates being in a surplus position in 2018/19. It will however be a matter for the school to live within its budget.

6.10 The Department’s high level estimate of funding for this proposal (using 2016/17 Common Funding Formula values), assuming a phased increase for Year 13 from 100 to 150 pupils (i.e. an additional 50 Year 13 pupils per year over two years) is as follows:

AWPU Factor 50*2.18*£2,067.98 = £225,410 Premises Factor - Pupil (FTE) Funding 50*£169.02 = £8,451 GMI Admin Costs Already receiving = £0 TOTAL (Full Year) max = £233,861 TOTAL (Part-Year) £233,861*7/12 = £136,419

Note: *= multiply

6.11 A high-level funding estimate based on the above, using 2016-17 Post-Primary Formula Funding values, is £234k (full year 2018-19) and £136k (in-year 2017-18). The funding, therefore, over 2 phased years would be £468k (full year 2018-19 and 2019-20) and £272k (in-year 2017-18 and 2018-19). The funding requirement may be increased by other allocations, such as the TSN Factor and Premises Factor (Floor Area element), which cannot be estimated at present as relevant data is not available.

6.12 The case for change notes that the existing management and governance structures would be sufficient to implement and manage the proposed expansion of the school and no additional capital cost requirements are envisaged as the school’s new building was built to accommodate a sixth form of over 340 places.

ETI input 6.13 ETI’s input (Appendix F) notes that this proposal is to develop the school’s sixth form provision to enable 75% of learners to stay on. It also states that at the time of the inspection (2013) the percentage of pupils going onto another school (in the 2012/13 academic year) was almost 5 percentage points above the NI average. It is noted that the table provided in the school’s case for change showing the destination of Year 12 students from the 2013/14 to 2016/17 academic years highlight an increase in numbers of pupils since then have been entering FE institutions instead of enrolling at another school.

6.14 ETI note Lagan College’s participation in it Area Learning Community and states that ‘although approximately 35% of the school’s annual intake is selected on the basis of academic ability, it is unlikely that the DP will impact significantly on grammar school neighbours such as Our Lady and St Patrick’s (OLSP) Knock’.

6.15 It is ETI’s view that in light of the continuing upward trend in standards at post-16 level, the development of post-16 provision at Lagan College will:

 better meet the needs of those Lagan pupils who might otherwise be forced to go transfer to another provider for post-16 provision; by being able to 21

stay on extends the care, support and welfare that they have experienced in key stages 3 and 4, linking this to the outcomes they may achieve at post-16 level;

 enable the school to expand further the curriculum offer at post-16, including collaborative arrangements with other providers; and

 extend the option for parents and students to continue to partake in or experience afresh integrated education, as Lagan is the only integrated college in this area ( the nearest alternatives are Blackwater College, Downpatrick or Priory College, Holywood).

6.16 ETI also highlight that the teachers may benefit from:

 focusing on teaching more to their specialism;

 improved opportunities for professional interaction;

 opportunities to be involved in curricular development; and

 improved opportunities for career advancement and leadership development.

6.17 ETI supports DP 482 but highlights concern about the impact of the proposal on Breda Academy. It has requested that this issue is given due attention in the decision making process around this proposal. The impact of this proposal on other schools (including Breda Academy) is considered in the section below.

Impact on other provision 6.18 Lagan College’s wide catchment area means that pupils travel past a number of other schools to attend school at this particular setting. Lagan College draws pupils from the immediate Lisburn and Castlereagh Local Government District (LGD) as well as the Belfast and Ards and North Down LGDs. Population projections (stated in the draft Strategic Area Plan) suggest that the population in the 16-19 age range will, by 2024, increase by 1.2% and 0.9% in the Lisburn and Castlereagh and Ards and North Down LGDs respectively and decrease by 1.4% in the Belfast LGD.

6.19 The comments below should be read in conjunction with Snapshots 1 and 2 (Enrolment/general details) and 3 (2015/16 EF offer) attached at Appendix G. As the number of courses school will be required to offer will reduce to 21 qualifying courses at both KS4 and post-16 from September 2017, the comments provided below in relation to EF

22 compliance are a factual account of the 2015/16 school year (which is the most current verified position).

Integrated 6.20 The two nearest Integrated schools to Lagan College are Priory and Malone Colleges (each are around 6-7 miles away). Priory College is situated in Holywood and forms part of provision along ‘the Corridor’ and Malone College is located within the Musgrave area of South Belfast.

6.21 Combined, these three schools offer a total of 2,500 places of which 430 are Year 8 and 2150 places at Years 8-12 with potential sixth form provision of 350 places.

6.22 In 2015/16 (less SEN Stage 5 pupils) there were:

 2,500 available places with 2,258 pupils enrolled (variance 242 places)  430 available Year 8 places with 398 pupils enrolled (variance 32 places)  2150 available places at Years 8-12 with 1839 pupils enrolled (variance 311 places)  350 potential Sixth Form places with 419 pupils enrolled (variance 69 places)

6.23 Although these figures suggest an availability of Integrated places at Years 8-12 but no availability at Post-16, the facts are that only Malone College has capacity at Year 8 and 246 unfilled places. There is currently no capacity at Year 8 or at Sixth Form in either Lagan College or Priory College.

6.24 In 2016/17, unverified figures suggest that:  Lagan College is oversubscribed at Year 8 first preference applications.  Although Priory College and Malone College are undersubscribed at first preference, Priory College has accepted applications over its admission number.  Of the 130 Year 8 places on offer at Malone College, 64 applications were accepted. 6.25 Priory College’s Years 8 to 12 enrolment numbers (430) now virtually align with its total enrolment number (500) which has required approval to TVs of 16 and 26 additional sixth form places in 2015/16 and 2016/17 respectively. Table 7 below confirms that growth is emanating from Year 8 upwards. In 2015/16, Priory College was not fully EF compliant at either KS 4 or at post-16.

Table 7 Priory College – Historic Enrols 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 (include SEN St 5) Total pupils 509 492 500 549 580 Year 8 85 74 83 114 114

6.26 Malone College has capacity at both Year 8-12 and at Post-16. Table 8 below confirms that enrolments at the school are declining and there is no sign of sustained growth from Year 8 upwards. In 2015/16, Malone College was not fully EF compliant at KS 4 but was compliant at post-16.

Table 8 Malone College 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 (include SEN St 5) Total pupils 710 708 656 617 591 Year 8 96 72 75 55 92

6.27 Lagan College has four neighbouring Controlled secondary schools (Ashfield Boys’ and Girls’ HSs, Dundonald HS and Breda Academy) and one Maintained secondary school (St Joseph’s College) located within a 5-mile radius.

Controlled 6.28 The four Controlled schools offer a total of 2,860 places of which 513 places are at Year 8 and 2,565 places between Years 8-12 with potential sixth form provision of 313 places.

6.29 In 2015/16 (less SEN Stage 5 pupils) there were:

 2860 available places with 2443 pupils enrolled (variance 417 places)  513 available places at Year 8 with 421 pupils enrolled (variance 92 places)  2565 available places at Years 8-12, with 2042 pupils enrolled (variance 523 places)  295 potential places at Sixth Form with 401 pupils enrolled (variance 106 places)

6.30 In 2016/17, unverified figures suggest that:

 Both Ashfield schools have filled to capacity at Year 8.  Dundonald HS and Breda Academy each have capacity from Year 8 upwards.

6.31 Although the evidence suggests that there is unfilled capacity within this sector, in reality this applies only to Breda Academy (with 146 unfilled places) and Dundonald HS (with 386 unfilled places but does not

24 offer Sixth Form provision) as both Ashfield Boys’ and Girls’ HSs are full to capacity between Years 8 to 14 with no unfilled places.

6.32 In 2015/16, Ashfield Girls’ HS and Breda Academy were fully EF compliant at KS4 but not compliant at post-16. Ashfield Boy’s HS was not EF compliant at either phase and Dundonald HS was not compliant at KS4 (and does not offer sixth form provision).

6.33 ETI has raised particular concerns about the impact of this proposal on Breda Academy which was established in 2015 through the amalgamation of Newtownbreda and Knockbreda HSs.

6.34 Breda Academy has approved admission and enrolment numbers of 170 and 1000 respectively. In 2015/16 (excluding SEN stage 5 pupils) there were 140 Year 8 pupils and a total enrolment of 854 pupils enrolled at the school of which 113 were in its sixth form (i.e. 76 in Year 13 and 37 in Year 14).

6.35 Although Breda Academy has yet to achieve it maximum admission and enrolment numbers, in 2015/16 its Years 8 to 12 and Post-16 enrolments (less SEN Stage 5 pupils) were 741 and 113 respectively making a total enrolment of 854 pupils. These figures are above the recommended SSP thresholds of 500 pupils (at Years 8-12) and 100 pupils (at sixth form). Unverified records for 2016/17 suggest that the school has admitted a total of 122 Year 8 pupils (this figure includes SEN Stage 5 pupils).

6.36 There are no immediate concerns about the enrolments at Breda Academy given that they are compliant with (and in fact exceed) the SSP thresholds. As a newly established school, it is recognised that it may take time for growth there to continue to emanate year or year from Year 8 through to sixth form.

Maintained 6.37 St Joseph’s College offers a total of 664 places of which 120 are at Year 8 and 600 places between Years 8-12 with potential sixth form provision of 64 places.

6.38 In 2015/16 (less SEN Stage 5 pupils) there were:

 664 available places with 559 pupils enrolled (variance 105 places)  120 available places at Year 8 with 113 pupils enrolled (variance 7 places)

 600 available places at Years 8-12, with 461 pupils enrolled (variance 139 places)  64 potential places at Sixth Form with 98 pupils enrolled (variance 34 places) 6.39 In 2016/17, unverified figures suggest that the school will again have capacity from Year 8 upwards with 100 pupils being admitted. In 2015/16 St Joseph’s College was EF compliant at KS4 but not at post- 16.

Grammar 6.40 The ten grammar schools listed in the snapshot offer a total of 10,225 places of which 1435 are at Year 8 and 7,175 places between Years 8-12 with potential sixth form provision of 3,050 places.

6.41 In 2015/16 (less SEN Stage 5 pupils) there were:

 10,225 available places with 9980 pupils enrolled (variance 245 places)  1435 available places at Year 8 with 1437 pupils enrolled (variance 2 places)  7175 available places at Years 8-12, with 7265 pupils enrolled (variance 90 places)  3,050 potential places at Sixth Form with 2715 pupils enrolled (variance 335 places)

6.42 In 2016/17, unverified figures suggest that:

 The Grammar schools will have no capacity at Year 8 as the number of (first preference) applications (1,537) exceed the number of available places (1,435). 6.43 Although there is no capacity at Year 8, the lower school total enrolments at the Grammar Schools suggest that pupils are being enrolled in these schools from Years 9-12 as most have some unfilled capacity at Sixth Form thus enabling enrolments to be contained within their overall approved total enrolment numbers.

6.44 In 2015/16, six of the ten grammar schools listed were fully EF compliant at KS4 and post-16.

6.45 In summary, the information above confirms that, in addition to Lagan College, sixth form provision at other local popular secondary schools (i.e. Priory College, Ashfield Boys HS and Ashfield Girls HS) are

26 full to capacity and although a majority of the Grammar schools have some capacity at sixth form it is possible that their requirements for Year 13 admissions may potentially restrict access to those places.

6.46 The outcome of Priory College’s DP (in 2014) was that if the school demonstrated growth in its enrolment and evidence of demand for places there, a further DP could be considered. Responsibility for provision at Priory College lies with the EA in the first instance and there are currently no competing published proposals for that school. However, the evidence would suggest that Priory College’s catchment largely covers North Down rather than being a natural provider for pupils from the East Belfast area (Map 2 refers). For those reasons the impact of this proposal on provision at Priory College (current and future) is considered negligible. Any future DP for that school would be considered on its own merits and within the local area context.

6.47 The evidence also suggests that the south Belfast location of Malone College does not offer potential sixth form pupils from the East Belfast and Down areas a reasonably accessible alternative Integrated option and while St Joseph’s College has potential capacity at sixth form because it is not filling to its enrolment number, growth there has been emanating from Year 8 upwards in recent years and has yet to work through to the upper school.

6.48 In relation to Breda Academy, given that the school is recently established there are no immediate concerns about its enrolment numbers and the challenge at this school will be to attract more students at Year 8 so that growth can emanate through to sixth form.

6.49 Lagan College’s proposal is primarily aimed at its existing Year 12 students wishing to continue their sixth form studies there and this rationale has also been repeated through the letters of support received on this proposal.

6.50 Evidence suggests that the impact of this proposal on other local schools including Breda Academy should be relatively minimal, particularly as Lagan College’s admission number will remain unchanged. Concerns raised by the EA about this proposal when it was submitted to the Department when published did not include any specific concerns about the impact on Breda Academy for which it is the relevant school managing authority. Furthermore, no objections about this proposal were lodged with the Department during the two-month statutory objection period.

6.51 It is also noted that Lagan College’s case for change includes details about the destinations of its Year 12 students post-GCSE. This information highlights that the majority of those leaving the school post- GCSE enter FE rather than enrolling in another school. The information in the case for change does not provide specific details about the level of study being accessed at FE but the evidence above may help put the Year 12 leaver destinations into context.

7. CONCLUSION

7.1 Although the school’s case for change highlights that a majority of Lagan College’s leavers unable to secure a Year 13 place there attend FE institutions and states that ‘increasing the size of the college’s sixth form would reduce the numbers going to FE’, the Department recognises that that some courses may be more appropriately delivered in a FE setting and it may be pupils’ preferred choice to access courses there.

7.2 The intention of this proposal has been well rehearsed in the school’s case for change as well as the letters of support received, which is to primarily give students already attending Lagan College a reasonable opportunity to complete their studies there. Parents have an expectation that when their children enrol at Lagan College they will have a fair and equitable opportunity to continue into its sixth form. However, that expectation is compromised because of the school’s current Year 13 intake (50% of its annual cohort) which falls below that of the local grammar schools which have the potential to admit between 85% to 100% of their annual cohort into Year 13 (Appendix G: Snapshot 2 refers).

7.3 The evidence points to the sixth form situation at Lagan College not being adequate to meet current demand from its own students. Details in the school’s case for change about the oversubscription of Year 13 admission applications by its own students concurs with the Department’s analysis (Table 7 above). The figures provided in the school’s case for change also show that, on average, over the past four years (2013 to 2016), there have been 144 internal applicants for the 100 available Year 13 places and this increases to an average of 163 applicants when external applicants are included.

7.4 The impact of this proposal on other schools is not concerning because there is no change to the school’s admission number and it will be pupils already enrolled at Lagan College who will be the primary

28 beneficiaries of the proposal. A very limited number of Lagan College’s post Year 12 pupils currently enrol at Year 13 in another school as the majority of the school’s Year 12 leavers tend to enrol in FE and the impact on those settings (particularly Belfast Metropolitan College) is likely to be minimised given its wide catchment areas.

7.5 The Area Planning process continues with the new strategic Area Plan and supporting Annual Action Plan being finalised. The EA’s present Annual Action Plan (which includes this proposal for Lagan College) has currency until March 2017 and supports the Department’s consideration of any related published proposal. It is noted that in addition to the Annual Action Plan, reference to this proposal being brought forward within a five-year timeframe was also included in the previously published iterations of the post-primary (SEELB) Area Plan. Therefore anyone interested in it or affected by it would have been aware of it and could have availed of the opportunity to send their comments on it directly to the Department during the two-month statutory objection period, but none were received.

7.6 The Department concurs with the outcome of the EA’s 2015 report on post-primary provision regarding the adequate number of sixth form places across the greater east Belfast ‘Corridor’ area. However the evidence above suggests that these places are not necessarily in the right locations or sectors and in some instances present pupils with access difficulties, particularly to the Grammar sector due to high entry requirements. The out workings of that report and any subsequent action required is a matter for the EA to consider in the first instance and progress through the Area Planning structures. There are currently no alternative or competing published DPs for sixth form provision in this area.

8. RECOMMENDATION

8.1 The Department is mindful that parents and pupils make a specific choice for education at an Integrated school setting. Although this proposal will primarily benefit the existing students of Lagan College it may also benefit other students at local Integrated post-primary schools without a sixth form (e.g. Blackwater Integrated College) by providing an opportunity to complete their studies at an Integrated setting, if that is their preference.

8.2 Considered all of the evidence in this case and balancing this against its statutory duty to encourage and facilitate the development of Integrated education, it is recommended that you:

1) Approve DP 482 as published. This means that the approved enrolment number at Lagan College will increase from 1200 to 1300 phased over two years from September 2017, or as soon as possible thereafter, with the admissions number remaining at 200.

2) Agree that this submission (with appropriate redactions) can be made available on the Department’s website once the school and the EA have been notified.

8.3 I attach the following for your consideration.

Appendix A: Lagan College – DP 482 & case for change. Appendix B: EA comments and consultation report. Appendix C: EA’s report on post-primary provision in East Belfast (2015). Appendix D: Summary - correspondence received during two-month statutory objection period. Appendix E: NICIE comments Appendix F: ETI input Appendix G: Supporting statistics.

Lorraine Finlay  59995 [email protected]

CC Paul Sweeney Fiona Hepper Julie Thompson Jacqui Durkin Dorina Edgar APPT Press Office

APPENDIX A LAGAN COLLEGE’S CASE FOR CHANGE

APPENDIX A: ANNEX A - DP 482 AS PUBLISHED

APPENDIX B EA’s COMMENTS AND CONSULTATION REPORT ON DP 482

APPENDIX C

EA (2015) REPORT ON EAST BELFAST POST-PRIMARY PROVISION

APPENDIX D – SUMMARY – OF CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED DURING STATUTORY TWO-MONTH OBJECTION PERIOD

The Department received a total of 57 letters of support and no letters of objection regarding DP 482 during the two month statutory objection period. The 57 letters were received from:

A number of the emails and letters received in support of the proposal (mainly Parents, Pupils, Others and Kellie Armstrong, MLA) all highlighted a number of similar points, which are provided in full below:

 Lagan College’s Sixth Form development Proposal would enable 75% of our own students to have the opportunity to stay on in their school. (Annually 25% of students have expressed a desire to study a highly vocational course at Further Education College or connect with bespoke Apprenticeships and Training programmes).  Lagan College’s Sixth Form development proposal would enable the school to offer a wider choice of A Level and equivalent level 3 courses to our young people.  Lagan College’s Sixth Form development proposal would enable 100 more of our students over a 2 year period, to continue to experience our integrated and inclusive school ethos and values – supporting the Government’s shared learning programme.  Lagan College’s new school buildings opened in 2013 and were purpose built to accommodate over 300 Sixth Form students.  Lagan College is currently offering 28 Post-16 courses and our own children would like the opportunity to stay on in their own school and continue to experience an integrated ethos.  More of Lagan College’s students deserve the chance to stay on at their own school, if it is the young person and their parent(s)/guardian(s) desire.

The table below highlights other comments made by the respondents: Summary of correspondence received Key Statements and Views – correspondence received on DP 482 during two-month statutory objection period (24 November 2016 to 24 January 2017) by DE during 2-month statutory objection period Lagan College – Chair BoG & As of 2013 we received new buildings...we believe it is now an apt time to pursue our Development Proposal to enable more of our Principal students to remain on to Post-16 study in an inclusive and integrated school community.

Having consulted with students and parents/guardians we are aware that 75% of Year 12 students (150) would like the opportunity to remain at Lagan College for a further two years....this has not been possible as there are only 100 places in Lower Sixth and 100 in Upper Sixth (200 in total).

In response to our initial submission to the EA, the issue of Area Planning was raised. To date the Area Plan of 2012 is still valid. Within it, Lagan College’s potential to develop its Sixth Form provision was included. Indeed, as a result of the Capital Build Project in 2013, Lagan College is in a clear position to meet the educational needs of over 300 Sixth Form students.

Please be aware that Lagan College has resided on two Area Learning Communities...Working in partnership with local schools we have always endeavoured to be transparent about our intention to apply for a Sixth Form Development Proposal to benefit our own Year 12 students.

In response to a concern raised in November with the Education Authority, in the last three years we have not admitted students from Down High School and believe we would not be compromising Post-16 provision in any other school as the students attend Lagan College already. We would be very concerned and feel it totally unjust if our students were disadvantaged in your decision making because other schools were objecting to our Sixth Form Development Proposal on grounds of waiting for a new Area Plan as a means to simply develop their own Post-16 provision. Links to a student video were provided in this letter. You can view this at the links provided at Section 4 – Consultations in the main submission above.

Lagan College Teachers/Staff Being a previous Head of Tear 12 it is often distressing and painful to give bad news to students who aren’t able to get back into 6th form because of the allocation. The need is there....we just need you to allow this to happen.

Every year I witness half of our students having to leave to go to colleges of further education and other schools because we are not permitted to offer them places (links to student video were provided. You can view this at the links provided at Section 4 – Consultations in the main submission above).

My role within Learning Support is...to work as a mentor for Sixth Form students identified as requiring some additional support with their studies. ...these students do no hold Statement of Special Educational Needs....if these students were to move on to Further Education post-16, it is likely that they would receive very little – if an- additional support....they feel they would not have been able to cope with the rigours of post-16 study without the additional help which they have received through Lagan’s Learning Support Department. Every year there are students...whose scores fall just below the threshold..with the provision for a larger Sixth Form we 69 would be able to maintain up to 75% of our own students beyond the age of 16. We have a massive number of students who are committed to our integrated ethos and are unable to continue in integrated education post-16 due to the current limit on our places and the lack of other integrated schools in the area.

This proposal would provide our young people with a choice of routes to reach their Tertiary Education level and would enable 75% of our own students to have the opportunity to stay on in their school.

Lagan College’s Sixth Form Development Proposal would enable 100 more of our students over a 2 year period to continue to experience our integrated and inclusive school ethos and values supporting the Government’s shared learning programme. The new school building is purpose built to accommodate over 300 Sixth Form students.

I think this is a good idea because it will allow us to continue to educate more of our own students under the same integrated principals that they succeeded under from Year 8 to 12.

This will allow a large number of our pupils to return to sixth form as at the moment half of our year 12 group will have to move school or do a course at Belfast Met – even though we offer that course here....hopefully you can see the potential of extending our 6th form.

Due to limitations imposed currently by DENI we are not able to enable the majority of our students to return for post 16 provision...Development Proposal would enable 75% of our own students to have the opportunity to stay on at the school....offer a wider choice of A Level and equivalent level 3 courses which could meet the needs of the wider range of ability of students we would be able to offer places to....it would be of wiser economic management as well as being more academically accountable and fair to all our students, if we were able to offer more student places.

It would enable 75% of our own students to have the opportunity to stay on in their school. This is extremely important as the students have already formed meaningful relationships with their teachers and lifelong friendships with their peers. We already are aware that annually 25% of our students have expressed a desire to study a highly vocational course at Further Education College or connect with bespoke Apprenticeships and Training programmes....it would enable 100 more of our students over a 2 year period, to continue to experience our integrated and inclusive school ethos and values supporting the Government’s shared learning programme.

Pupils join our school due to our integrated and inclusive school ethos and by expanding our sixth form the pupils can continue to experience this ethos which also supports the Government’s shared learning programme. The pupils ultimately deserve to have their educational needs met at the school they know....they deserve the opportunity to stay here.

I feel this would be a huge benefit for the students who unfortunately in the past have been unable to return to the school they have attended since the age of 11....our own students would like the opportunity to stay on in their own school and continue to experience an integrated ethos.

At 16 years old we lose a lot of our students as we do not have the spaces for many students to return. ...would enable 75% of our own students to have the opportunity to stay on in their school...enable the school to offer a wider choice of A level or equivalent level 3 courses....enable 100 more of our students over a 2 year period to continue....more of Lagan College’s students deserve the chance to stay 70

on at their own school. Parents of pupils past and present I was part of the group of parents and supporters who set up Lagan College in 1981. It was an act of great faith in the future of Northern and Others interested in or affected by Ireland that children of all faiths and none, all abilities and of all cultures could be educated together. It is heavily oversubscribed....and the proposal need to offer more of those pupils who have made the choice of this college and education into sixth form.

As a parent the integrated ethos of the school....is very important to me. I want my children to stay and not have to move to a segregated/non-integrated college.

This additional facility at Lagan would...provide a much needed space for pupils to be the best that they can be.

I am writing to support the proposal...this would allow my 2 children, who attend the school, to have more opportunity to continue their education at Lagan College.

My children are a Junior School in Lagan College and I would hope that they might study to A level. Unless these is funding provided for an extension to the A level provision at Lagan this may not be feasible.

X would benefit so much from a further 2 years in Lagan College and without the expansion of 6th form would be unable to do this.

I would like both my daughters to continue with their post 16 education at the College. Young people experience significant pressure in Year 12....this would be reduced if students had greater confidence that places would be available for them in the College at post 16.

I would be grateful if serious consideration is given to the proposal which will allow a bigger intake of 6th form pupils and also increase the number of available subjects.

I am very aware of the number of Year 12 students who would like to return to the College Sixth Form but are unable to do so. To increase the number of places...would allow any student who wanted to return the opportunity to do so.

As parents of three children...we are appealing to you to grant the extra places....to allow a greater number of students to continue their education in the sixth form at Lagan College. Having had two children very successfully completing their studies at Lagan College ...we are faced yet again with the stress and uncertainty that our third child might not....because of the limited number of places available in sixth form. Friends... would have loved the opportunity to stay on and complete their studies had to do so at further education college...not only unsuitable for some but unsettling and disruptive to their education. We would ...reiterate the unique integrated status of Lagan College..as well as supporting the Government’s shared learning programme.

My daughter....will want to stay on in the Sixth Form and the thought of her not being able to do this would be very distressing. The ethos of the school being for all ability should follow through into the Sixth Form. Young people who are at present forced to leave the school may fall by the wayside and end up being unemployed or in dead end jobs.

My daughter loves the school and would love to complete all her studies in the integrated environment. It seems only fair that all pupils

who have proved they are able should have the opportunity to continue their education at the school where they have been for 5 years.

Lagan will offer my child the best range of A level subjects and is the only available post primary integrated school in my area. I think it would be wrong to expect him to potentially leave an integrated setting sue to a lack of places in sixth form. Should the Department turn down this proposal....asking my son to transfer to a non-integrated setting for A levels would be the opposite of encouraging and facilitating integrated when a reasonable proposal has been presented to achieve this aim.

I would like my child to have every chance to continue to sixth year within the integrated and inclusive ethos which Lagan College and I hold dear.

I would be very keen for him to continue to study at an Integrated school and not an FE College.

I believe this request to be reasonable and fair. Approving the development proposal would also show your support to an integrated fully ‘shared’ educational experience. The...proposal does not threaten other local post primary school as the students already attend Lagan College and are on roll.

I feel it is of utmost importance that there is enough places for the children who want to stay on at school....it is very sad that more than half of 16 year olds at Lagan College do not have the opportunity to return to Sixth Form after GCSEs. This would help a lot of children realise their potential if they were allowed two more years at school.

More of Lagan College’s students deserve the chance to stay on at their own school and continue to experience the integrated school ethos and values which supports the Government’s shared learning programme.

This is a wonderful opportunity for Northern Ireland’s first planned integrated school. Pupils (past/present) I am a former pupil of the school...it is my belief that integrated schools are the future of Northern Ireland...I chose Lagan College because I would be able to be educated with my siblings...despite our range of abilities. I urge you to support the proposal to expand its sixth form provision so that more young people may benefit from excellent teaching, world class facilities and integrated ethos. NICIE NICIE comments are attached in full at Appendix E. Summary of comments at Section 4 – Consultations in the main submission above. Integrated Education Fund Increasing the enrolment at post-16 level at Lagan College and offering a wider range of courses...would enable more students to remain in the school, in an integrated education context, after GCSE...the development would be consistent with its commitment to all-ability education.

Lagan College’s new school buildings...were purpose built to accommodate more than 300 Sixth Form Students so this development if granted would make the best use of the space and investment in the new build, for the benefit of a greater number of young people.

Lagan College is a popular school, regularly oversubscribed, and the Fund feels strongly that any development proposal which would allow the school to meet local demand for integrated education should be granted, thus reflecting the wishes of students and parents. Principal - Strangford College I am writing on behalf of the Board of Governors at Strangford College, to register our full support for Lagan College’s development

proposal to increase the Admissions number for 6th Form. We wish Lagan College every success in their bid, and hope that the Minister will respond positively to the proposal. Kellie Armstrong MLA In addition to the bullet points highlighted above, Ms Armstrong’s correspondence also notes that Lagan College was the first all-ability, co-educational, integrated comprehensive school and 35 years later, more than 1,200 students proudly fly the integrated banner. The proposal to expand Lagan’s Sixth Form provision from 200 to 300 places by 2018 would enable 150 per year to stay on at school to study A level and Level three equivalent courses.

APPENDIX E: NICIE COMMENTS ON DP 482

APPENDIX F: ETI INPUT ON DP 482 – LAGAN COLLEGE

THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSPECTORATE RESPONSE TO A DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL (DP)

SECTION 1 RESPONSE FORM

PHASE Post-primary

ELB SE2

DP REFERENCE NUMBER (S) 482

PROPOSAL (S) Lagan College – to increase enrolment number from 1200 to 1300 phased over 2 years from September 2017, or as soon as possible thereafter, with the admissions number remaining at 200.

DATE OF RECEIPT OF DP (DI) 01.12.2016

DATE OF RETURN OF DP (DI)

DATE OF RETURN to APPT Ray Caldwell 17/1/17 Via ACI

ACI DIRECTORATE TITLE SCHOOLS

NAME OF DE CONTACT AND Anne Magee DATE AS STATED ON EMAIL

Note about this response: (where relevant)

DUE DATE 18 January 2017 (extended)

INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING IN THE DRAFT DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL RESPONSE.

PLEASE USE BULLET POINTS.

COLLEAGUES MAY FIND APPENDIX D CIRCULAR 2014/21 PUBLICATION OF A DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL: http://www.deni.gov.uk/de1_14_202314__development_proposal_guidance_-__english_version__issued_26_09_14.pdf A USEFUL REFERENCE WHEN CONSIDERING THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL. (A copy of Appendix D is attached on page 6 of Section 1)

EDUCATIONAL PROVISION (Expand box as required and delete guidance)

Lagan College was most recently inspected April 2013. The overall performance level was ‘Good’; Achievements and Standards, Provision for Learning and Leadership and Management were all evaluated as ‘Good’.

At time of the inspection, the percentage of pupils achieving five A*-C at GCSE level or equivalent , including

English and mathematics was well above the NI average for non-selective schools; in 2013 this was 51%; in 2015 this had increased to 56% and was 61% last year.

At time of inspection the percentage achieving 3 A levels or equivalent was also above the average for non- selective schools. The report states that the standards for applied A level are ‘very good.’ In 2016, the percentage of students gaining 3+ GCE A Levels or equivalent at grades A*-C was 69%, the highest recorded by the school.

The conclusion was that the school has important strengths in most of its educational and pastoral provision. The inspection had identified an areas for improvement which the school has demonstrated the capacity to address. The main area for improvement is to develop the effectiveness of the processes of self-evaluation in order to improve further the learning and teaching and the standards the pupils attain.

The school received a ‘new build’ in 2013.

ETI KNOWLEDGE (Expand box as required and delete guidance)  In response to the inspection findings, the school has demonstrated a good buy-in to the work of ETI by regularly inviting the DI in to consult on the school development planning process and actions to promote improvement;  Most recent DI visit was in November 2016;  The school has recently submitted its action plans for the new SDP;  With relevance to the DP, one of the stated aims is: ‘To develop Sixth Form Provision to enable 75% of the learners to stay on.’ At the time of the inspection the percentage of pupils going on to ‘another school’ was almost 5 percentage points above the NI average.  The school reports being consistently oversubscribed for admissions to post-16 and that they regularly have to turn away external students as well as disappoint some of their own students; hence the rationale by wanting to increase the enrolment figures but not the admissions figure;  The school participates in the ALC, linking with Loughview Integrated PS, Breda Academy and Our Lady & St Patrick’s (OLSP Knock) and Grosvenor Grammar; for example: it plans to utilise Eye4Education Intervention and Support for Underachieving Boys in Year 11(2016-17) in conjunction with OLSP Knock and Grosvenor Grammar School;  Although approximately 35% of the school’s annual intake is selected on the basis of academic ability, it is unlikely that the DP will impact significantly on grammar school neighbours such as OLSP Knock.

RATIONALE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ETI EVIDENCE (Expand box as required and delete guidance )

In light of the continuing upward trend in standards at post-16 level, the development of post-16 provision at Lagan College will:  better meet the needs of those Lagan pupils who might otherwise be forced to go transfer to another provider for post-16 provision; by being able to stay on extends the care, support and welfare that they have experienced in key stages 3 and 4, linking this to the outcomes they may achieve at post-16 level;  enable the school to expand further the curriculum offer at post-16, including collaborative arrangements with other providers; and  extend the option for parents and students to continue to partake in or experience afresh integrated education, as Lagan is the only integrated college in this area ( the nearest alternatives are Blackwater or Priory.

The teachers may benefit from:  focusing on teaching more to their specialism;  improved opportunities for professional interaction;  opportunities to be involved in curricular development; and  improved opportunities for career advancement and leadership development.

MATTERS ARISING OR FURTHER QUERIES BY ETI (Expand box as required and delete guidance) A significant consideration must be given to how the DP may impact on the newly formed Breda Academy – which came about from the amalgamation of Newtownbreda and Knockbreda Secondary Schools. The Academy has currently about 77 students in Year 13 and 37 in Year 1 and this could well impact adversely on the sustainability of the psot-16 provision in this school

ANY OTHER RELVANT INFORMATION (Expand box as required and delete guidance)

CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION (Expand box as required and delete guidance) Provide a recommendation that ETI supports or does not support the DP. The rationale box above should contain the reasons/justification which underpin and are in harmony with the recommendation below.

Inspection evidence and ETI knowledge: Based upon the evidence available, the ETI supports the proposal to increase the enrolment for Lagan College. However, the potential adverse impact of this on the newly formed and nearby Breda Academy should be given due attention in the decision-making process around this DP.

SNAPSHOTS APPENDIX G

SNAPSHOT 1: Lagan College & neighbouring provision/all pupils

 Approved/actual enrolments, unfilled places and inspection report information

SNAPSHOT 2: Lagan College & neighbouring provision/less SEN Stage 5 pupils

 Approved/actual enrolments at Years 8-12 & post-16

SNAPSHOT 3: Lagan College & neighbouring provision

 Curriculum Offer

SNAPSHOT No 1 Appr’d 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2015/16 Appr’d 2015/16 2016/17 2016/17 Yr 8 ETI report assessments SCHOOLS - LAGAN Enrolment Total Enrolment Total Enrolment Total Enrolment Unfilled Adm Actual Yr 8 First Pref Applics Applics COLLEGE & AREA places Nos Adms Accepted (INCLUDES SEN St 5) (unverified) 8-12 Post 16 Total 8-12 Post 16 Total 8-12 Post 16 Total Integrated Lagan College 1200 1044 216 1260 1047 223 1270 1047 217 1264 8 200 212 324 201 Good (2013) Priory College 500 430 70 500 472 77 549 496 84 580 0 100 114 70 105 Satisfactory (2015) Malone College 800 542 114 656 482 135 617 457 134 591 246 130 92 56 64 Important areas for imprvmt (2016) Sub-total 2500 2016 400 2416 2001 435 2436 2000 435 2435 254 430 418 450 370 Controlled Ashfield Boys’ HS 600 579 130 709 583 154 737 583 161 744 0 110 122 112 109 Very Good (2008)

Ashfield Girls’ HS 660 590 114 704 579 118 697 568 135 703 0 113 115 111 113 Good (2013) Dundonald HS 600 237 - 237 241 - 241 276 - 276 386 120 69 39 80 Satisfactory (2015) Breda Academy 1000 875 99 974 851 81 932 786 114 900 146 170 151 49 122 n/a (2013 to 2014 enrols Newt/Kckbreda HSs) Sub-total 2860 2281 343 2624 2254 353 2607 2213 410 2623 532 513 457 311 424 Maintained St Joseph’s 664 463 108 571 516 118 634 524 105 629 105 120 120 66 100 Good progress made since 2005 College report (2007) Sub-total 664 463 108 571 516 118 634 524 105 629 105 120 120 66 100 Grammar Aquinas GS 770 584 224 808 582 220 802 583 216 799 2 110 118 117 110 Very Good (2015) Bloomfield 710 517 179 696 511 184 695 513 178 691 23 100 101 72 100 Good (2015) College Campbell College 950 641 250 891 638 259 897 651 248 899 74 130 135 112 137 Areas identified for improvement (2015) Grosvenor GS 1075 797 293 1090 795 292 1087 794 286 1080 0 155 157 235 155 Good progress in areas for improvemt (2010) Our Lady & St 1260 928 349 1277 927 352 1279 929 341 1270 5 180 183 204 180 Very Good (2010) Patrick’s College Strathearn School 770 575 202 777 570 211 781 570 213 783 1 110 117 140 110 Very Good (2010) Sullivan Upper 1060 779 295 1074 778 297 1075 773 301 1074 0 150 153 168 151 High level of capacity to sustain improvemt(2015) Wellington College 770 597 207 804 593 222 815 594 196 790 15 110 118 105 112 Areas for improvemt (2015). School in FIP RBAI 1050 776 256 1032 767 237 1004 770 252 1022 49 150 157 137 151 Good (2014) Methodist College 1810 1245 508 1753 1252 536 1788 1251 525 1776 55 240 241 247 240 Good (2014) Sub-total 10225 7439 2763 10202 7413 2810 10223 7428 2756 10184 224 1435 1480 1537 1446 GRAND TOTAL 16249 12199 3614 15813 12184 3716 15900 12165 3706 15871 1115 2498 2475 2364 2340

SNAPSHOT NO 2 Appr’d Appr’d *Admission No *Available Balance 2015/16 Actual Yr 8 (less 2015/16 2015/16 2015/16 Total Enrol COMMENTS Potential th ADMISSIONS & Enrolment Adm Nos x 5 years (potential 6 fm) SEN 5) Yrs 8-12 Enrol Post-16 (less SEN 5 & Yr 15) capacity at th ENROLMENTS (LESS (Yrs 8-12) (less SEN 5 & Yr 15) (less SEN 5 & 6 form SEN St 5) Yr 15) Lagan Coll 1200 200 1000 200 202 985 210 1195 Actual enrolment below approved number. Limited places N available in lower school/no capacity at 6th form Priory Coll 500 100 500 0 101 430 79 509 Actual enrolment exceeds approved number. Places currently N available in lower school but continuation of 100+ Yr 8 pupils over next two years will impact on school’s 6th form intakes. Malone Coll 800 130 650 150 85 424 130 554 Actual enrolment below approved number. Available places in Y lower school and potentially 6th form. Sub-total 2500 430 2150 350 388 1839 419 2258 Ashfield Boys’ 600 110 550 50 110 535 154 689 Actual enrolment exceeds approved number. Although lower N school did not fill to capacity the high intake of 6th form numbers pushed school above approved number. Ashfield Girls’ 660 113 565 95 114 552 134 686 Actual enrolment exceeds approved number. Although lower N school did not fill to capacity the high intake of 6th form numbers pushed school above approved number. Dundonald HS 600 120 600 n/a 57 214 n/a 214 This school does not provide 6th form. Actual enrolment below - approved number. School has spare capacity (Yrs 8-12). Breda Academy 1000 170 850 150 140 741 113 854 Actual enrolment below approved number. Available places in Y lower school and potentially 6th form. Sub-total 2860 513 2565 295 421 2042 401 2443 St Joseph’s Coll 664 120 600 64 113 461 98 559 Actual enrolment below approved number. Lower school did N not fill to capacity which impacted on school’s 6th form numbers. Sub-total 664 120 600 64 113 461 98 559 Aquinas GS 770 110 550 220 110 552 204 756 Actual enrolment below approved number. No capacity in Y lower school. Potential capacity at 6th form. Bloomfield Coll 710 100 500 210 100 510 177 687 Actual enrolment below approved number. No capacity in Y lower school. Potential capacity at 6th form. Campbell Coll 950 130 650 300 129 630 246 876 Actual enrolment below approved number. Available places in Y lower school and potentially 6th form. Grosvenor GS 1075 155 775 300 155 785 283 1068 Actual enrolment below approved number. No capacity in Y lower school. Potential capacity at 6th form. Our Lady & St 1260 180 900 360 180 915 339 1254 Actual enrolment below approved number. No capacity in th Y Patrick’s Coll lower school. Potential capacity at 6 form. Strathearn 770 110 550 220 111 559 211 770 Actual enrolment aligns with approved number. No capacity in N lower school or 6th form. Sullivan Upper 1060 150 750 310 150 763 296 1059 Actual enrolment below approved number. No capacity in N lower school or 6th form. Wellington Coll 770 110 550 220 110 563 192 755 Actual enrolment below approved number. No capacity in Y lower school. Potential capacity at 6th form. RBAI 1050 150 750 300 152 753 247 1000 Actual enrolment below approved number. No capacity in Y lower school. Potential capacity at 6th form. Methodist Coll 1810 240 1200 610 240 1235 520 1755 Actual enrolment below approved number. No capacity in Y lower school. Potential capacity at 6th form. Sub-total 10225 1435 7175 3050 1437 7265 2715 9980 GRAND TOTAL 16249 2498 12490 3759 2359 11607 3633 15240 * Note: Where schools are not oversubscribed, they all have the same obligations to admit applicants to all available places, the only exception being for Year groups other than Year 8 if the Board of Governors of a Post- primary school can demonstrate that the admission of a child to the school would prejudice the efficient use of resources (reference: Article 13 of the Education (NI) Order 1997).

Snapshot No 3 Verified curriculum offer 15-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 School Year 11 Year 11 Meeting/Not Year 13 Year 13 Meeting/Not Ref School Name Region location Applied General Total meeting Applied General Total meeting 1210014 Ashfield Girls' High BELB urban 15 9 24 Y 16 5 21 N 1210015 Ashfield Boys' High BELB urban 14 9 23 N 14 4 18 N 1230275 St Joseph's College, Belfast BELB urban 16 10 26 Y 11 11 22 N 1260294 Malone College BELB urban 11 11 22 N 17 11 28 Y 1410079 Grosvenor Grammar BELB urban 10 15 25 Y 11 16 27 Y 1410270 Wellington College BELB urban 9 15 24 Y 12 15 27 Y 1410315 Bloomfield Collegiate BELB urban 11 15 26 Y 11 15 26 N 1420020 Campbell College BELB urban 10 16 26 Y 12 15 27 Y 1420022 Methodist College BELB urban 12 19 31 Y 11 19 30 Y 1420027 Royal Belfast Academical Inst. BELB urban 12 18 30 Y 10 20 30 Y 1420089 Strathearn BELB urban 7 15 22 N 8 17 25 N 1420277 Aquinas Grammar BELB urban 11 15 26 Y 10 17 27 Y 4210262 Dundonald High School SEELB urban 18 7 25 N 4210316 Breda Academy SEELB urban 19 12 31 Y 11 6 17 N 4250024 Priory Integrated College SEELB urban 17 6 23 N 14 6 20 N 4260255 Lagan College SEELB rural 17 17 34 Y 12 13 25 N 4420044 Sullivan Upper School SEELB urban 10 13 23 N 14 14 28 Y 4420259 Our Lady and St Patrick's College SEELB urban 11 15 26 Y 9 17 26 N